Scaffolding u-lock



A ril 29, 1958 J. D'ARCY CHADWICK ETAL 2,832,649

SCAFFQLDING U-LOCK Filed D90. 13, 1954 I5 I l6 FIG-.2

ll wn Inventors JOHN D. CHADW/CK NORMA/V RA SCAFFGLDING U-L'DCK llohn DArcy Chadwick and Norman Ramm, Windsor, Untario, (Ianada; said Chadwick assignor to said Ramm Application December 13, 1954, Serial No. 474,748

3 Claims. (Cl. 304-40) This invention relates to a lock for locking brace members to frame members in scatfolding and like constructrons.

-t is common practice to provide support structures which can be readily erected and readily knocked down for the purpose of supporting scaffolding platforms and like supports.

These support structures are composed generally of frame members and cross brace members, and it is desirable that a simple, eflicient, safe locking means that is easy and quick to operate be provided for connecting the cross brace members to the frame members. We have devised such a locking means which, we feel, is a substantial improvement over the locking means previously employed from the points of view of both convenience and safety.

Generally speaking, our locking means is carried by a frame member and includes a pin, a forked locking bar, slidably mounted on the frame and having prongs that are adapted to straddle the aforementioned pin and the free end of cross brace member slipped thereover. The invention will be clearly understod after reference to the following detailed specification read in conjunction with the drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of frames and brace members assembled to provide a structure adapted to support scaffolding platforms, and

Figure 2 is a detailed perspective view of a locking means according to the present invention showing a portion of the frame and two brace members connecting therewith.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral generally indicates a structure erected to support scaffolding platforms in a horizontal position. It is composed of a series of vertically extending or disposed frame members, 11, and cross brace members 12. The cross brace members are locked to the frame members by means of a locking means which forms the subject matter of this invention. In Figure 2 I have illustrated a detail of the locking means as it would exist at the point circled 13 of Figure 1.

The locking means comprises a pin 14 Welded at one end to the vertical bar of the frame 11, and adapted to receive thereover the free ends of the braces 12 as illustrated.

A forked locking bolt 15 having spaced apart prongs 15a and 15b is slidably mounted Within aligned holes formed in the plates 16 and 17 which, like the pin 14, are rigidly connected to the vertically extending bar of the frame 11. Locking bar 15 can be raised or slid with- States Patent in its mounting plates 16 and 17 so that its forked end is 5 elevated above the pin 14 and the cross braces 12. In

this latter described position the braces 12 can be slid from the pin 14.

The locking means of the invention is shown in a locked position in Figure 1, that is with the prongs of the forked locking bolt straddling the pin 14 and the end of a cross brace that is slid thereover whereby to lock the latter with respect to the pin and frame. To unlock the arrangement it is merely necessary to lift the forked locking bolt 15 so that the forked ends thereof clear the pin 14 and the brace members 12. The brace members then are merely withdrawn from the pin. The reverse procedure is of course followed to lock the device.

it will be noted that the prong 15a of bifurcated locking bolt 15 is longer than the prong 15b so that as the bolt is raised prong 15b first clears the pin and the outermost cross brace 12 on the pin 14. One brace can then be removed While the brace that is closest to the vertical support is still locked in position by the prong 15a. By further lifting the locking bolt prong 15a can be caused to clear the pin and other brace 12 and the latter can be removed. The forming of one prong longer than the other permits the braces 12 to be locked and unlocked separately.

Embodiments of the invention other than the one shown will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is not intended that our invention should be limited to the foregoing disclosure except for the limitations expressed in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A locking means for a scaffolding frame or the like, comprising a pin carried by said frame over which a member to be locked thereto in use can be projected, said member being formed with a hole for projection onto said pin as just aforesaid, a forked locking bolt having spaced apart prongs, and mounting means overlying said pin and carried by said frame formed with spaced apart holes within which each of said spaced apart prongs of said locking bolt moves longitudinally of itself and drops by gravity from a first position above said pin to a second position close to said pin, said prongs dropping to said second position in spaced apart relation along the length of said pin to each lock a brace or like member projected on said pin from disengagement with said pin in use.

2. A locking means as claimed in claim 1 in which said prongs have different lengths and are progressively longer from the outermost prong which is closest the outer extremity of said pin.

3. A locking means as claimed in claim 1 in which said forked member has a U shape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 333,558 Smith Jan. 5, 1886 720,496 Simpson Feb. 10, 1903 935,526 Kneale Sept. 28, 1909 1,527,572 Olson Feb. 24, 1925 1,873,645 Harbert Aug. 23, 1932 2,620,237 Kirpatrick Dec. 2, 1952 2,635,717 Albrecht Apr. 21, 1953 2,686,086 French Aug. 10, 1954 2,716,576 Nordone Aug. 30, 1955 2,726,902 Bergman et a1 Dec. 13, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 888,661 Germany Sept. 3, 1953 

